211 Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.
211 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
211 Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel.
211 Now Satan entered the scene and seduced David into taking a census of Israel.
211 Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.
211 Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel.
241 Again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, "Go and take a census of Israel and Judah."
241 And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.
241 Again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, "Go, number Israel and Judah."
241 Once again God's anger blazed out against Israel. He tested David by telling him, "Go and take a census of Israel and Judah."
241 Again the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, "Go, number Israel and Judah."
241 Once again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and he caused David to harm them by taking a census. "Go and count the people of Israel and Judah," the Lord told him.
(Read 2 Samuel 24:1-9)
For the people's sin David was left to act wrong, and in his chastisement they received punishment. This example throws light upon God's government of the world, and furnishes a useful lesson. The pride of David's heart, was his sin in numbering of the people. He thought thereby to appear the more formidable, trusting in an arm of flesh more than he should have done, and though he had written so much of trusting in God only. God judges not of sin as we do. What appears to us harmless, or, at least, but a small offence, may be a great sin in the eye of God, who discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart. Even ungodly men can discern evil tempers and wrong conduct in believers, of which they themselves often remain unconscious. But God seldom allows those whom he loves the pleasures they sinfully covet.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Chronicles 21:1
Chapter Contents
David's numbering the people.
No mention is made in this book of David's sin in the matter of Uriah, neither of the troubles that followed it: they had no needful connexion with the subjects here noted. But David's sin, in numbering the people, is related: in the atonement made for that sin, there was notice of the place on which the temple should be built. The command to David to build an altar, was a blessed token of reconciliation. God testified his acceptance of David's offerings on this altar. Thus Christ was made sin, and a curse for us; it pleased the Lord to bruise him, that through him, God might be to us, not a consuming Fire, but a reconciled God. It is good to continue attendance on those ordinances in which we have experienced the tokens of God's presence, and have found that he is with us of a truth. Here God graciously met me, therefore I will still expect to meet him.